Robotic system and methods of use

• US 8,813,880 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guoxinruibo Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: RoboteX, Inc.
• Inventors: Gettings, Nathan D., Gettings, Adam M., Stevens, Andrew G., Penn, Taylor J., Siler, Edward John III
• Primary Examiner(s): WINNER, TONY H
• Application Number:
  US13/840,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 180/9.32, 180/9, 180/9.1, 180/7.1
• US Class Current: 180/9.32
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/06 with tracks without ground wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/0885 Self-cleaning sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/12 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.

Claims

1. A robotic vehicle system comprising:

a body;

a first track attached to the body and configured to move the body, wherein the first track has a first track longitudinal axis;

a second track attached to the body and configured to move the body, wherein the second track has a second track longitudinal axis;

wherein the first track longitudinal axis is at a track angle with respect to the second track longitudinal axis, and wherein the first track and second track have a toed-in configuration, wherein the track angle is from 0.5°

to 10°

.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the track angle is from 1°

to 5°

.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the track angle is 3°

.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a bolt configured to adjust the track angle.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to adjust the track angle.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a solenoid configured to adjust the track angle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the body has a body plane, and wherein the first track is configured to rotate out of plane with the body plane.

8. A robotic vehicle system comprising:

a body having a body longitudinal axis;

a first track configured to move the body, wherein the first track has a first track longitudinal axis;

wherein the first track longitudinal axis is at a body angle with respect to the body longitudinal axis, and wherein the body angle is from 0.25°

to 5°

.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the body angle is from 0.5°

to 2.5°

.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the body angle is 1.5°

.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a bolt configured to adjust the body angle.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a motor configured to adjust the track half-angle.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a solenoid configured to adjust the track half-angle.

14. A robotic vehicle system comprising:

a body haying a body longitudinal axis;

a first track attached to the body;

a second track attached to the body;

a first flipper having a flipper longitudinal axis; and

wherein a body angle is between the body longitudinal axis and the first flipper longitudinal axis, and wherein the body angle is from 0°

to 180°

.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the body angle is from 5°

to 15°

.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the body angle is 10°

.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first flipper is configured to be rotatable out of a plane of the body.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second flipper.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second track attached to the body.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the first track is on the first flipper.